Stanley Cup Final Game 3 betting tips - Props, odds, picks - ESPN

The Florida Panthers aren't going to lose four straight games this postseason. You know it, I know it, and (deep down) the members of the Edmonton Oilers also know it. So, if the Oilers hope to make anything of this series, without question, they need to win Game 3. Which means you can expect to see a group of fairly desperate and determined skaters hit the ice Thursday evening, looking to feed off the uproarious crowd expected at Rogers Place. Having last change doesn't hurt either.

Also working in Edmonton's favor is having two full days off to mull over Monday's substandard performance in Game 2. They need to figure out how to get more pucks on net (seven through two periods is not going to cut it) and rediscover their patented pace. Finding space and moving the puck around quicker would also help. A tall ask against Florida's physical play and aggressive forecheck, but that's the hand dealt. Never mind the task of reinvigorating a power play that's 0 for 7 this series. As Connor McDavid said himself, it's supposed to be hard.

Fortunately, for both the Edmonton faithful and fans who want a longer series altogether, McDavid and Co. showed us they can compete against Paul Maurice's Panthers. If not for Sergei Bobrovsky playing out of his mind, they had a good opportunity to win Game 1. Now it's time for Edmonton's star players — no matter how banged up — to replicate that display, and claw back into this series. Otherwise, we'll be talking «sweep» over the weekend.

Injury notes: Edmonton defender Darnell Nurse is expected to play Thursday, while forward Evander Kane (sports hernia) remains questionable. Whether Kane suits up or not, Corey Perry is pegged to draw back into the lineup after sitting out Game 2. Panthers